Aerodrome origins
Case study for students: Paraparaumu Aerodrome.
During World War II (1939–45), the government built Paraparaumu Aerodrome for defence purposes. In such emergencies, it could force landowners to sell their properties. However, if it ever wanted to sell the land later, it would have to offer it to the original owners (or their descendants) first.
After the war, the aerodrome was used publicly, mostly as a training and recreational aerodrome – until, in 1990, the government proposed restructuring or selling it.
